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Garmin Express & nuvi 2599: cannot see skipped updates or old installed vehicles

Former Member over 9 years ago

Hi everyone,

first of all, I would like to apologize if these issues were raised in other threads. I've looked around and I couldn't find anything. Also, I'm having a bit of a problem posting this. I hope I didn't doublepost.

My issues with Garmin Express are the following:

1. I cannot see previously offered updates I skipped.
I've connected my nuvi 2599 and I was offered new map update, together with 7 other updates (text, camera support, etc ...). I installed the map only. After the map was installed, the device removed from the computer and connected back, I was not offered any other updates, and Express claimed the device was up to date. Then, after a while (and I cannot say if I removed the device again in the mean time), I suddenly saw the other non-map updates. I picked just one of them and did not decide to "install all". The update was installed and now, there's no way I can see any other update. Restarting the computer, reconnecting the nuvi, or clicking on the few clickable parts of Express do nothing to bring the list of updates back. Express says, the device is up to date (regardless whether the device is connected or not).
My questions are: is there a way to see what was installed? Can I install the updates I chose not to before? How do I get the list back?

2. I cannot see installed vehicles anymore.
A while back I installed a couple of addon vehicles onto my device. The vehicles are available for using. The files can be seen on the nuvi via windows explorer. The vehicles are not visible in the Garmin Express.
Questions: Can I remove these vehicles to save storage space? Should I just remove the files from the nuvi or not? Can I get them back later on? Via Express or via file manager? Will they work in the latter case?

3. There is lack of control for moving voices to the device. (Similar issues were reported in at least one other thread, but this was not explored beyond "yay, I got it fixed".)
I have English language (voice) installed on the nuvi. It works. It offers several flavours of English (American, Australian, British, Indian).
I'm not sure if I can pick these flavours individually, or are they all part of "English" language pack. I presume this language pack is what is offered under tools -> optional updates -> language files. I'm a bit confused why it is described as "updates not currently in use", because I am using English.
When I was trying to update my device, I noticed there's English listed there and the size of the update was "200 MB". I selected and installed this update. Afterwards the English pack was no longer there. I disconnected the device, connected it back, and the English update was back, this time size was "142 MB". I thought "hm... perhaps another update which required the previous one to be installed first". I installed this update as well. Again English disappeared from the list. Wait a bit, and it's back, with size of 142 MB. Now I could probably install it ad infinitum, and it would always be available.
Questions: is this an update or a glitch? How do I know if I need to update my language pack? Why is it described as "currently not in use" when English is being used? How do I know that voices that I currently have on the device, and are working, won't disappear with the next update? If I cannot know that - can I prevent it, eg. by making a manual backup of voice files?

These questions are primarily directed at Garmin personnel, but if anyone from the general public knows the answers, I'd be much obliged.

As someone put it: it is understandable that the software is written with the "average Redneck" in mind when it comes to interface. The interface is extremely spartan, there are very few options, most of them pretty much useless. But the essentials are missing.
What the the technically savvy part of the general public would appreciate is an interface, where we know what's actually on the device (independent from current shop offerings) and what can be put on the device, with a clear option of picking the parts that either go on or off. To put it short: a bit of control over our devices.

Cheers,
opcode.

0 EXPRESSCUSTOMERCARE over 9 years ago

opcode

I will be happy to answer your questions. I will try not to miss any of them.

Some updates are required. If they are, they will install no matter what you choose to update.
There is no easy way to see a history of what you installed unfortunately.
Updates will only show if you need them and don't have them. The list disappears because it loaded those updates. It is possible the updates will trigger again by removing the device from Garmin Express and then adding it back. This really isn't necessary.
You can delete vehicles to save storage space.
You can delete them directly from the nuvi.
Most vehicles can be downloaded again. We need to know which ones you're talking about for an exact answer.
If you save them first, restoring them should be as simple as moving them back to the "Vehicle" folder.
Voices are included as a language pack in Garmin Express. It will list them there until they are loaded by the device. It should recognize these are installed after it is powered up and used. As long as there is one version of English that was not previously installed, it will list the entire pack.
Updates don't remove language files. (Older map updates did try this option to get more space but it caused confusion and was removed.) You can back up language files by saving them to the computer if you want.
If you have a language installed and there is an update, it will list this update with other software updates instead of in the "Optional Updates".

I think I have addressed all your questions. If not, please feel free to let us know.

Dave

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Hi Dave,

thank you very much for your answers.

I am relieved to hear that some important updates are installed automatically. I will therefore assume that if I haven't picked all the necessary (important) updates, they have been installed and my device is correctly updated.

I've tried - based on some other suggestions - to remove the device from Garmin Express, but that did not restore the update list the second time. I presume that's because the first time I only updated the map, and the second time I've actually selected at least one software update and it installed all of them.

Thanks for explaining that manually operating files on the nuvi is permitted and works without somehow "disconnecting" the nuvi from Garmin Express, making it impossible to manage it afterwards.

The vehicles in question are not really that important to me. I was asking purely in case in the future I find an addon vehicle I really like, if I might lose the ability to restore it if I removed it from the nuvi and it's no longer offered in the Garmin Express. Something similar goes for language packs.

Backing up files manually, by copying them to the PC is perfect for me.

The only weird thing right now is that the English language update is listed in the "Optional Updates", rather than where I'd expect it, since English is installed on my nuvi. I will consider this a minor glitch, not requiring any extra thought, as English works on my nuvi perfectly.

Thank you again, Dave, for fast response and good answers. I hope anyone else, if they happen to have the same questions, can benefit from them.

I would also like to thank the moderator for handling my submission (I think I did manage to make two, but they correctly posted just one).

opcode